Sandi Logan

At first thought, I do not necessarily think of myself as a creative person. I am definitely a Type A, organized and structured person that always has a plan in place. Usually, I have a plan B and C, as well. I’m pretty methodical and strategic in my actions. Some might say that I am rather predictable. Yet, the more that I critically analyze my activities, the more I realize that I AM in fact creative. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is creativity.

I’m sure most people can relate to the fact that life is much like a balancing act. We each hold various responsibilities and priorities that we must fulfill hourly, weekly, monthly, etc. Depending upon a multitude of factors like personality and career, some have learned how to approach this balancing act better than others.

I just returned home from a conference, where I was supporting my “other half” with his emerging research presentation. The Association of Leadership Educators annual conference was held in exciting New Orleans, following the 4th of July holiday. Not only do I enjoy the networking and various social events that occur at conferences, but I also enjoy the learning that occurs once you leave a multi-day experience and begin to process what you have seen and heard. In reflecting upon this experience, what stands out most in my mind was a keynote presentation by Ted Thomas. He has spent much of his career working for the military. Currently, he is in charge of developing and supervising leadership curriculum to nearly 1,300 civilian and active-duty students.

I just returned home from the Florida Counseling Association’s (FCA) annual leadership development institute (LDI , and boy can I feel the energy! It is just such a wonderful experience being in a room full of leaders from various counseling backgrounds and stages of their career. Doctoral students were eager to be involved and receive mentorship as emerging leaders.

After completing the first year of my doctoral program, I believe I need to make myself a t-shirt that states “I survived my 1st year of my PhD.” But beyond that I have recently come to the realization of how mentorship is all around us. Upon acceptance into my program, I was assigned to a faculty mentor who is also serving as the chair of my dissertation committee. I immensely see the importance of her mentorship in creating my planned program and during the dissertation process. Just think of if you had to embark upon uncharted territory without anyone to confer with. This would be quite the fete; however, quite manageable with one’s mentorship.